Committees

Grant Shapps: To ask the Leader of the House what estimate she has made of the annual cost of the proposed (a) regional select committees and  (b) regional grand committees, including remuneration for committee chairs.

Chris Bryant: The House of Commons Management Board has produced estimated costs of regional select committees, which were distributed in the Vote Office in advance of the debate in the House on 12 November, as an Explanatory Memorandum relating to the Government's motions.
	The House decided on 12 November that there should be no pay for regional select committee chairs.
	The estimated costs, excluding pay for select committee chairmen, are as follows:
	 (a) select committees: £924,348
	 (b) grand committees: £312,080

Early Day Motions

David Taylor: To ask the Leader of the House what recent assessment she has made of the methods by which hon. Members may add their names to early day motions.

Chris Bryant: Hon. Members may add their names to an early day motion by signing a copy of the motion or a piece of paper with the EDM number; by asking another hon. Member to sign on their behalf; or by asking in person in the Table Office for their name to be added.
	The Procedure Committee recommended in May 2007 that there should be no move towards the electronic tabling of early day motions without significantly stronger authentication than is currently required for parliamentary questions (First Report of 2006-07, HC 513, paragraphs 93 to 96).
	The House endorsed this approach in its debate on the Committee's Report on 25 October 2007.
	The Procedure Committee is currently considering the issue of authentication as part of its inquiry into written questions.

Departmental Older Workers

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people over the age of  (a) 55 and  (b) 60 were recruited to his Department in the last 12 months; and what percentage of all recruits this represented in each case.

Paul Goggins: Of the 58 people recruited to the Northern Ireland Office in the last 12 months, one (1.7 per cent.) has been aged between 55 and 60 years of age. None has been over the age of 60.
	Until recently, age requirements for appointment to the Civil Service were that appointees should have reached the age of 16 on or before the 1 July prior to the date of appointment, and be less than 65 years of age at the date of appointment. This policy has recently been reviewed and, with effect from 1 September 2008, there is no longer an upper age limit for appointees.

Olympic Games 2012

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what recent discussions he has had with the  (a) First Minister and  (b) Deputy First Minister on Northern Ireland's contribution to the 2012 Olympics.

Shaun Woodward: I have had had no recent discussions with the First and deputy First Ministers on this matter.

Bus Services: Concessions

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which local authorities offer free bus travel before 9.30 a.m. to pensioners.

Paul Clark: A list of the 186 authorities in England that offered free travel before 9.30 am as at 30 June 2008 has been placed in the House Library.
	Concessionary travel schemes in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales are the responsibility of the devolved administrations.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre: Databases

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many local authorities accessed records held by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency via the Web Enabled Enquiry System in 2007-08; and for what purposes.

Jim Fitzpatrick: During the financial year 2007-08, DVLA vehicle records were accessed by 355 local authorities via the web enabled inquiry system. The purposes for the requests were for investigations into:
	Abandoned vehicles;
	Fly tipping;
	Untaxed vehicles;
	Noise nuisance as a result of the vehicle/its use;
	Dog fouling;
	Fly posting;
	Bus lane violations
	Nuisance vehicles;
	Damage to street furniture.

Adult Education: Finance

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much his Department spent on the Adult Education and Skills Strategy in  (a) the most recent year for which figures are available and  (b) in each of the previous five years, broken down by main budget heading.

Si�n Simon: The majority of funding for adult further education and skills is managed by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and included in the LSC budget. Some funding is spent outside the LSC and included in other lines. A breakdown of expenditure from 2002-03 to 2007-08 included in the Adult Education and Skills Strategy line in Annex 2, Table 11 of the 2008 Departmental Report is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Outturn ( million) 
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08( 1) 
			 Adult Education and Skills Strategy 245 172 182 191 168 176 
			  Of which:   
			 Skills Funding for Regional Development Agencies 42 42 43 43 44 45 
			 Skills For Life Development (non-LSC)1 47 46 46 60 27 25 
			 Capital Funding for UK Online Centres and Wired Up Communities 90  
			 Sector Skills Development Agency 17 35 70 68 75 81 
			 Learndirect and Adult Guidance(non-LSC)' 19 18 4 6 9 9 
			 Investors in People UK 2 5 5 5 6 6 
			 UK Skills Sponsorship 4 3 3 3 4 5 
			 Other Adult Education and Skills Strategy 24 23 11 6 3 5 
			 (1) Estimated (2) These lines do not show the full expenditure on these programmes as some expenditure is included in the LSC budget. In particular where funding reduces significantly, this is because funding has been transferred to LSC.  Source: The figures for total expenditure on the adult education and the skills strategy line are taken from Table 11, Annex 2 of the 2008 Departmental Report for the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills.

Apprentices

Gordon Marsden: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 
	(1)  how many and what proportion of  (a) large employers,  (b) medium-sized employers and  (c) small employers in England offered apprenticeships in each year since 2002;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of advanced apprenticeship places in England were with  (a) large employers,  (b) medium-sized employers and  (c) small employers in each year since 2002;
	(3)  how many and what proportion of level 2 apprenticeship places in England were with  (a) large employers,  (b) medium-sized employers and  (c) small employers in each year since 2002.

Si�n Simon: Data on the number and size of the employers supporting apprentices is not collected via the individualised learner record (ILR) and hence the information requested is not currently available.
	From the 2009/10 academic year, this information will be available on the ILR when a unique employer identifier will have to be provided by all employers of apprentices.
	We can provide an estimate of the size of employers that offer and have recruited apprentices from the National Employer Skills Survey (NESS). These data are based on over 79,000 establishments that were surveyed April and July 2007.
	Findings of the NESS show that (from Table 1) 6 per cent. of all employers surveyed have recruited an apprentice. 15 per cent. of employers with between 100 and 199 employees have recruited an apprentice, while 26 per cent. of employers with over 500 employees have recruited an apprentice.
	From Table 2, 14 per cent. of all employers surveyed have offered an apprenticeship. 25 per cent. of employers with between 100 and 199 employees have offered an apprenticeship, while 40 per cent. of employers surveyed with over 500 employees have offered an apprenticeship.
	
		
			  Table 1: Percentage of employers that have recruited an apprentice 
			Number of employees of employer 
			   All employers  2-4  5-24  25-99  100-199  200-499  500+ 
			 Percentage of employers that have recruited an apprentice 6 4 8 11 15 19 26 
			  Source: NESS 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Percentage of employers that have offered an apprenticeship 
			Number of employees of employer 
			   All employers  2-4  5-24  25-99  100-199  200-499  500+ 
			 Percentage of employers that have offered an apprenticeship 14 10 17 21 25 30 40 
			  Source: NESS

Counterfeit Manufacturing: Internet

John Leech: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what steps are being taken to tackle the trade in counterfeit goods on internet auction sites.

David Lammy: The Government's plan for the creative industries, Creative Britain: New Talents for the New Economy, PP1067, published in February 2008 and available in the Library of the House, recognised online infringement of intellectual property rights as a particular concern. That document set out the Government's general action plan for intellectual property enforcement, of which online enforcement forms an important segment. The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is now leading in the Government's delivery of that plan. In line with the plan, local authority trading standards officers have been given expanded powers to deal with intellectual property crime. The Government have just completed a consultation on introducing exceptional summary (above 5,000) fines in magistrates' courts. The consultation is designed to align the penalties for online and physical copyright offences. And there is ever growing cooperation between law enforcement agencies and internet service providers. For example, eBay work closely with officials at the IPO and the enforcement agencies. During 2007, eBay trained some 7,000 law enforcement officials globally, assisted in over 66,000 investigations and the arrest or conviction of over 500 individuals.

Departmental Buildings

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend, East of 6 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 527-28W, on departmental buildings, what the cost of the refurbishment was.

Si�n Simon: The cost of the refurbishment at Kingsgate house, undertaken by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on behalf of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills, was 5.1 million. This provided a cost-effective working environment, with flexible desking on the basis of eight desks for every 10 people, movement-activated lighting to reduce power consumption and video conferencing facilities to reduce travel costs.

Departmental Information Officers

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many press and communications officers are employed by  (a) his Department,  (b) non-departmental public bodies and  (c) its agencies.

Si�n Simon: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) There are currently 12 permanent Press Officers and one temporary Press Officer supplied through the Central Office of Information in the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills. There are 30 Communications Officers employed by the Department in its central communications function.
	 (b) and  (c) For much of its business, the Department operates through a number of arms length bodies including 20 non-departmental public bodies and other agencies. It is the responsibility of each body to manage its staff and costs. Therefore the Department does not hold the information requested centrally and there would be a disproportionate cost to gather the information requested.

11 Downing Street: Utilities

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on  (a) heating,  (b) electricity and  (c) water bills for (i) No. 11 Downing Street and (ii) Dorneywood in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: The information requested in respect of No 11 Downing street is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. Dorneywood is owned and operated by the Dorneywood Trust, a registered charity, at no cost to public funds.

Departmental ICT

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Fareham of 27 October 2008,  Official Report, columns 778-80W, on departmental ICT, for what reasons  (a) HM Revenue and Customs and  (b) the Valuation Office Agency were not listed in the answer.

Stephen Timms: HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is a non-ministerial Department, and the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is an agency of HMRC. Neither HMRC nor VOA are agencies of HM Treasury.

Financial Services Authority: ICT

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how many complaints have been received concerning the Gathering Better Regulatory Information Electronically electronic reporting system, in the last 12 months broken down by subject of complaint;
	(2)  what the  (a) original budget and  (b) final costs for the design and implementation of the Gathering Better Regulatory Information Electronically System;
	(3)  which IT systems the Gathering Better Regulatory Information Electronically system has replaced;
	(4)  how much his Department has spent on the design and implementation of the Gathering Better Regulatory Information Electronically IT project.

Ian Pearson: The matters are the responsibility of the Financial Services Authority, whose day to day operations are independent from Government control and influence.

Government Departments: Property

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 3 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2184W, on Government Departments: property, what area of actual vacant space is recorded on the e-PIMS database, aggregated to include sensitive and non-sensitive records in a non-identifiable manner.

Angela Eagle: The current total area of actual vacant space recorded on e-PIMS as at the end of October 2008 is 274,357 sq m. Of this, the area of vacant space marked as sensitive totals 644 sq m.

Government Departments: Property

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 3 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2184W, on Government Departments: property, if he will place in the Library a list of the names and addresses of the current non-sensitive vacant space recorded on the e-PIMS database and the area vacant for each address.

Angela Eagle: The list has been placed in the Libraries.

Housing: Valuation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 18 June 2008,  Official Report, column 988W, on housing: valuation, when the boundaries of the localities were last amended or updated.

Stephen Timms: Update and amendment of individual locality boundaries occurs frequently on a care and maintenance basis. The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Amendments to localities do not affect current council tax bands.

Housing: Valuation

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 22 July 2008,  Official Report, column 1393W, on housing: valuation, when the numerical co-efficient values were last amended or updated.

Stephen Timms: Update and amendment of individual locality coefficients occur frequently on a care and maintenance basis and do not affect current council tax bands. The information could therefore be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Non-domestic Rates: Empty Property

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment has been made of the effect of the introduction of empty property business rates on the attractiveness to overseas investors of real estate investment trusts.

Angela Eagle: The Department of Communities and Local Government published an impact assessment of the empty property rate relief reforms in May 2007 alongside the primary legislation.
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/localgovernment/ratingempty
	On 26 February this year, the Minister for Local Government (John Healey) laid a further assessment before the House, alongside the regulations.
	http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/em/uksiem_20080386_en.pdf

Valuation Office: Geographical Information Systems

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 4 November 2008,  Official Report, column 314W, on the Valuation Office, which four companies were invited to tender; and what criteria were used in the decision to invite those companies.

Stephen Timms: In accordance with the terms of HM Revenue and Customs' contract with Aspire, the tender process was handled by Aspire. The identify of the companies invited to tender is commercially confidential.

Carbon Emissions: New Forest

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the Answer of 10 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 769-70W, on carbon emissions: New Forest, 
	(1)  what the effect of the technical constraints is on the policy of whether traffic on the A31 trunk road should be included in the carbon footprint of the New Forest National Park Authority;
	(2)  what carbon footprint figures are available for the A31 trunk road;
	(3)  whether carbon footprint figures are available for any parts of  (a) the New Forest National Park,  (b) the New Forest District Council area and  (c) the Hampshire County Council area;
	(4)  what the technical hurdles referred to are; and when they were first identified.

Huw Irranca-Davies: holding answer 17 November 2008
	The technical hurdles to producing carbon dioxide emissions figures for the New Forest National Park concern aggregation of available spatially disaggregated data to the boundaries of the park, and merging data for emissions and removals due to land use with other emissions. These issues have been known generically for a long time and apply in general to producing geographically disaggregated estimates. My Department routinely produces estimates for local authority areas, but not national park boundaries. I anticipate that the technical constrains will not prevent inclusion of emission from the A31 Trunk Road in the carbon footprint of the national park, and it should be possible to produce emissions estimates for other sections of the A31. My response later in the year, promised in my previous answer of 10 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 769-70W, will set out these issues in more detail.

Domestic Waste: Waste Disposal

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 1 September 2008,  Official Report, column 1487W, on domestic wastes: contracts, when copies of projects WR0103 and WR0104 will be placed in the Library;
	(2)  pursuant to the answer of 1 September 2008,  Official Report, column 1487W, on domestic waste: waste disposal, if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's Review of Environmental and Health Effects of Waste Management;
	(3)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the research report commissioned by his Department Waste Strategy Review - SD0328;
	(4)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the research report commissioned by his Department, OU Household Waste Survey - EV01011;
	(5)  if he will place in the Library a copy of the report Household Waste Prevention, commissioned by his Department from Eunomia.

Jane Kennedy: All the reports requested are publicly available on DEFRA's website.

Tuna: Conservation

Bill Wiggin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if he will make it his policy to suspend bluefin tuna fishing in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean until such time as the contracting parties to the International Convention on Atlantic Tuna fully comply with the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna recommendations on bluefin.

Huw Irranca-Davies: The annual meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) takes place in Marrakech from 17-24 November 2008. The UK's aim at this meeting will be to agree a Total allowable catch for blue fin tuna that does not go above the limit recommended by the ICCAT Scientific Committee. In addition we will fully support the EU Commission in seeking enhanced control measures in the fishery including identifying spawning areas and setting a uniform fishing season and minimum landing size. We would hope that enhanced control measures could be agreed and implemented in time for the 2009 fishing season.

Waste Management

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on what dates his Department's Waste Incentives Project Board has met to date; and what the membership of the Board is.

Jane Kennedy: The Waste Incentive Project Board has met on the following dates:
	19 December 2007
	17 January 2008
	29 February 2008
	23 April 2008
	27 June 2008
	14 August 2008
	17 October 2008.
	The board is comprised of DEFRA officials, and representatives of the Local Government Association, Waste and Resources Action Programme, Department of Communities and Local Government, HM Treasury and Cabinet Office.

Waste Management

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the relationship there will be between regional waste strategy boards if established and joint waste authorities.

Jane Kennedy: Regional Waste Strategy Boards are not created under legislation. There is no statutory relationship between them and joint waste authorities. It is anticipated that joint waste authorities will work constructively with regional waste strategy boards, should boards be established.

Departmental Official Visits

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the  (a) date,  (b) location and  (c) purpose was of the meetings she had while in the United States in February 2008; and who attended each meeting.

Vernon Coaker: My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary visited the US from 10 to 12 February 2008. In Washington DC she had meetings with the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Drugs Enforcement Administration. In New York she met senior New York police officials, and visited the Gangs Resistance Education and Training (GREAT) Project.
	The meetings were to enhance co-operation and understanding between the UK and the US on issues such as, tackling terrorism and organised crime.
	She was accompanied on her visit by senior officials from the Office of Security and Counter-Terrorism, the International Directorate, the Serious Organised Crime Agency, Press Office and members of her Private Office.

Departmental Sick Leave

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of her Department's staff took more than  (a) five,  (b) 10,  (c) 15,  (d) 20,  (e) 25,  (f) 30,  (g) 35 and  (h) 40 days leave due to stress in each of the last five years, broken down by pay grade.

Phil Woolas: The Home Office staff sickness tables from 2003-04 to 2007-08 are shown in the following tables.
	The information is drawn from Home Office HQ, United Kingdom Border Agency (UKBA) and Identity and Passport Service (IPS) personnel information management system, respectively. The Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) is unable to provide response without incurring disproportionate cost.
	Home Office and UKBA's data before 2005 is unavailable due to data migration to a new system which is reflected in the lower 2003-04 and 2004-05 figures. Calculations are based on a 12-month rolling period for an accurate representation of working days lost to stress-related sickness within each year.
	In 2006-07, the Home Office HQ included the following Departments; Communities Group, NOMS and OCJR, which have now all transferred following machinery of government changes. NOMS and OCJR left in May 2007 to join Ministry of Justice, and therefore have been included for year 2005-06 and 2006-07. Communities Group transferred to DCLG in May 2006 and are included in year 2005-06 sickness calculation.
	
		
			  Table 1: Home Office sickness for 2003-04 
			   Days 
			  Grade  ≥5 and =10  ≥10 and =15  ≥15 and =20  ≥20 and =25  ≥25 and =30  ≥30 and =35  ≥35 and =40  ≥40 
			 AA 2 2 1 0 1 0 0 5 
			 AO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 EO 3 1 2 0 1 1 1 6 
			 HEO 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 2 
			 SEO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 G7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 G6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 SCS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 6 3 3 0 2 2 2 14 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Home Office sickness for 2004 -0 5 
			   Days 
			  Grade  ≥5 and =10  ≥10 and =15  ≥15 and =20  ≥20 and =25  ≥25 and =30  ≥30 and =35  ≥35 and =40  ≥40 
			 AA 2 0 1 2 2 0 0 4 
			 AO 11 4 6 2 1 3 0 10 
			 EO 4 3 2 0 0 0 1 3 
			 HEO 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 
			 SEO 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 G7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 G6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 SCS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Other 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 18 7 10 4 3 3 1 18 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3: Home Office sickness for 2005 -0 6 
			   Days 
			  Grade  ≥5 and =10  ≥10 and =15  ≥15 and =20  ≥20 and =25  ≥25 and =30  ≥30 and =35  ≥35 and =40  ≥40 
			 AA 13 18 4 9 2 2 5 20 
			 AO 41 39 27 15 7 8 6 60 
			 EO 45 34 16 16 16 20 5 71 
			 HEO 13 6 8 3 4 1 2 22 
			 SEO 5 3 5 0 2 1 1 11 
			 G7 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 4 
			 G6 1 1 0 1 0 2 0 2 
			 SCS 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Other 3 1 1 2 0 2 2 4 
			 Total 121 104 61 46 31 36 22 195 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 4: Home Office sickness for 2006 -0 7 
			   Days 
			  Grade  ≥5 and =10  ≥10 and =15  ≥15 and =20  ≥20 and =25  ≥25 and =30  ≥30 and =35  ≥35 and =40  ≥40 
			 AA 19 9 9 7 4 3 3 21 
			 AO 55 38 27 14 7 7 4 75 
			 EO 61 27 25 21 14 11 13 74 
			 HEO 14 12 12 10 9 5 1 23 
			 SEO 10 3 4 5 2 0 1 15 
			 G7 1 0 1 2 1 1 1 4 
			 G6 1 2 2 2 0 0 1 4 
			 SCS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 
			 Other 2 3 3 0 0 2 1 8 
			 Total 163 94 83 61 37 29 25 226 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 5: Home Office sickness for 2007 -0 8 
			   Days 
			  Grade  ≥5 and =10  ≥10 and =15  ≥15 and =20  ≥20 and =25  ≥25 and =30  ≥30 and =35  ≥35 and =40  ≥40 
			 AA 15 11 7 10 2 1 2 19 
			 AO 34 49 40 21 13 17 11 79 
			 EO 57 45 26 18 22 14 8 115 
			 HEO 16 14 12 16 7 7 6 38 
			 SEO 4 2 8 5 5 0 2 18 
			 G7 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 2 
			 G6 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 5 
			 SCS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Other 3 3 1 2 4 2 0 11 
			 Total 133 125 94 72 54 42 29 287

Entry Clearances

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for further leave to remain have been received in each of the last 10 years; how many applications were granted; how many applicants came originally  (a) for the purposes of work,  (b) to study and  (c) for other reasons; and for each category, how many dependants were brought to the UK.

Phil Woolas: holding answer 3 November 2008
	The following shows the number of applications made since January 2002, and of those how many were granted. This is the date from when fully electronic consideration and recording commenced. Prior to that paper based records were in use. The data is separated out by year, case type group and main/Dependant applications.
	Figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	Because of rounding, figures may not add up to total shown.
	The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.
	
		
			  In country leave to remain applications received each year since January 2002 (and of those the quantity subsequently granted) 
			Main applicant applications  Dependant applications 
			   Type  Granted  Total received  Granted  Total received 
			 2002 Employment 81,665 94,350 19,190 21,710 
			  Student 124,095 146,095 14,055 18,960 
			  Other 50,345 76,175 11,340 17,205 
			  Total 256,100 316,620 44,590 57,875 
			   
			 2003 Employment 104,865 122,520 29,780 32,840 
			  Student 175,790 210,745 20,335 25,380 
			  Other 54,715 86,280 13,950 21,355 
			  Total 335,375 419,545 64,070 79,570 
			   
			 2004 Employment 92,540 114,960 42,215 47,855 
			  Student 149,165 183,225 20,235 25,445 
			  Other 52,135 76,520 13,455 19,490 
			  Total 293,840 374,705 75,905 92,790 
			   
			 2005 Employment 78,840 92,985 44,490 49,345 
			  Student 127,850 157,340 19,855 24,665 
			  Other 43,640 62,390 10,085 14,785 
			  Total 250,330 312,715 74,435 88,790 
			   
			 2006 Employment 97,200 110,250 59,820 65,255 
			  Student 131,560 158,485 22,115 26,710 
			  Other 38,450 55,840 6,195 10,195 
			  Total 267,205 324,58 88,130 102,165 
			   
			 2007 Employment 84,400 102,715 45,715 52,980 
			  Student 131,855 164,785 24,460 30,580 
			  Other 52,155 75,180 6,655 11,325 
			  Total 268,410 342,680 76,825 84,885 
			   
			 2008 Employment 46,475 54,325 27,690 31,340 
			  Student 67,235 91,825 14,070 18,675 
			  Other 42,895 62,410 5,990 9,815 
			  Total 156,605 208,565 47,750 59,825 
			   
			  Grand total 1,827,860 2,299,405 471,700 575,900 
			  Notes: 1. The data provided covers applications made between 1 January 2002 and the 30 September 2008. Therefore the data for 2008 is for ah incomplete year. 2. The data is based on in country non-asylum leave to remain applications made between the above dates (not Indefinite Leave to Remain). 3. Granted in the table refers to a grant of limited leave to Remain only (not indefinite leave to remain) 4. Type in the table refers to the case type of the application made and actually represent the grouping of many different immigration casetypes. 5. This data differs from that published under the National Statistics Protocol in that it is based on date of application rather than date of despatch. 6. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5 7. Because of rounding, figures may not add up to total shown. 8. The figures quoted are not provided under National Statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.

Immigration Controls

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were applying for settlement in the UK under each employment route when the qualifying period for settlement was increased from four to five years in April 2006.

Phil Woolas: The following table shows the number of applications for settlement in the year prior to the qualifying period being increased (1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006) and in the year post the qualifying period being increased (1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007) broken down by each employment route.
	The criteria includes main applicants only and excludes dependants.
	The figures quoted are not provided under national statistics protocols and have been derived from local management information and are therefore provisional and subject to change.
	
		
			  Employment route  Pre-rule change  (1 April 2005-31 March 2006)  Post- rule change  (1 April 2006-31 March 2007) 
			 Airline employees 10 5 
			 Armed Forces 1,340 2,720 
			 Business 45 15 
			 BUS under EC Association Agreement 2,235 260 
			 Highly Skilled Migrants 760 205 
			 Innovator 15 5 
			 Investors 50 5 
			 MOR, Missionaries/Members of religious orders 550 135 
			 Overseas Domestic Workers 950 255 
			 Overseas Dom Worker in diplomatic households 65 25 
			 Overseas government employees 25 25 
			 Reps of overseas news Agency 15 5 
			 Retired persons of Independent means 25 5 
			 Sole Representative 55 10 
			 UK Ancestry 5,650 570 
			 Work Permit Employment 28,780 5,015 
			 Writers, composers and artists 40 10 
			 Total 40,620 9,265

Immigration Officers: Sick Leave

Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) immigration officers and  (b) other Border and Immigration Agency staff took long-term sick leave in each of the last five years.

Phil Woolas: The numbers of Immigration Officers and other UK Border Agency staff who have taken long term sick leave in each of the last three calendar years as recorded on our personnel system (Adelphi) are shown in the following table. The figures reflect improvements in recording and monitoring and should be judged in this context.
	We are unable to provide accurate data previous to 2005 as this was not recorded centrally.
	
		
			  Number 
			   Immigration officers  All other border and immigration agency staff 
			 2005 274 1,125 
			 2006 282 1,194 
			 2007 503 1,959

Courts Service: Costs

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost to the Courts Service of litigants in person was in each year since 1997.

Bridget Prentice: There is no data held centrally on the costs to Her Majesty's Courts Service of litigants in person.

Departmental Internet

Oliver Heald: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) page hits and  (b) visitors his Department's website received in 2007-08.

Shahid Malik: The Ministry of Justice website:
	www.justice.gov.uk
	launched on 9 May 2007. Monthly page impressions and visits figures for the year from May 2007 to March 2008 are as follows:
	
		
			   Page impressions  Visits 
			 May (from 9 May) 490,722 140,891 
			 June 609,632 182,358 
			 July 659,066 198,045 
			 August 605,483 186,261 
			 September 682,046 193,475 
			 October 832,057 267,060 
			 November 815,189 264,258 
			 December 613,200 197,628 
			 January 906,944 291,477 
			 February 830,664 272,590 
			 March 819,528 278,226 
			 Total 7,864,531 2,472,269

Licensing: Television

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many people have been fined for television licence fee evasion in each of the last five years; and how much was collected in fines in each such year.

Maria Eagle: The available information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of offenders fined and sum of all fines for offences relating to television licence evasion( 1) , 2002 to 2006 
			   Number of offenders fined  Sum of fines imposed () 
			 2002 94,569 10,448,919 
			 2003 78,813 9,043,774 
			 2004 96,155 11,104,361 
			 2005 117,907 14,362,466 
			 2006 113,874 14,748,188 
			 (1) The TV licensing provisions of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 were replaced by new provisions in the Communications Act 2003 which came into effect on 1 April 2004.  Notes: 1. These data are on the principle offence basis. 2. These figures have been drawn from administrative data systems. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. 3. Following quality checks, data for certain police force areas within corresponding regions are not considered reliable enough for publication.  Source: OMS Analytical Services. 
		
	
	The overall payment rate for all financial penalties by financial year is shown in the following table. This data is not collected by offence.
	
		
			   Payment rate (Percentage) 
			 2004-05 80 
			 2005-06 83 
			 2006-07 92 
			 2007-08 95 
		
	
	Data prior to April 2003 is not available in a comparable format.
	Court proceedings data for 2007 will be available in late November.

Prisoners: Employment

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment his Department has made of the possible benefits of meaningful employment for long term prisoners, including the impact of any taxation contributions; what consideration was made of the Howard League for Penal Reform's social enterprise in HMP Coldingley in forming that assessment; and what assessment he has made of the consequences of the closure of the social enterprise at HMP Coldingley.

David Hanson: The social benefits of providing employment in prisons, such as providing offenders with valuable skills to aid their resettlement back into the community and to reduce re-offending have long been recognised.
	Significant numbers of prisoners are meaningfully employed on a daily basis in a range of activities. This includes essential work producing a variety of goods for internal consumption and providing in-house services such as catering, cleaning and laundries. This reduces the cost of imprisonment and has an element of restitution while producing real work opportunities. Employment in prison also acts as an aid to good order and control and aids resettlement through skills and qualifications.
	Increasingly prisoners are employed to carry out work in partnership with other organisations and there are a number of employer partnerships with private industry that not only provide real employment and training but also employment on release. The Government are keen to grow these initiatives so that increasing number of prisoners and society can benefit. In addition to those working in individual prisons and probation areas there is also an existing corporate alliance with employers from the private, public and third sectors which informs strategy and delivery.
	Ultimately it was the Howard League for Penal Reform that has taken the decision to close the small design studio workshop at HM Prison Coldingley. The Prison Service has been supportive of this project from the outset. Furthermore, the Service has been willing to give further consideration to any proposals to expand the same business model into other establishments. Despite widespread publicity, support from the Prison Service no other private or voluntary sector has shown interest in replicating all aspects of the Howard League work.
	Although the Howard League closure is to be regretted the consequences on the number of prisoners employed is limited as the workshop currently employs some three prisoners and has never employed more than six prisoners at any one time. Workshop expansion at Coldingley is already planned and this will become operational early in 2009.

Prisons: Crimes of Violence

Paul Holmes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  how many prison officers have been assaulted whilst at work in female prisons in each year since 1997;
	(2)  how many prison officers have been assaulted whilst at work in male prisons in each year since 1997.

David Hanson: The information is set out in the following table. It is subject to important qualifications. The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) incident reporting system processes high volumes of data that are constantly being updated. The numbers provide an indication of overall numbers but should not be interpreted as absolute. Assault data is complex and the numbers need to be interpreted with caution.
	The recorded incidents of assaults on prison officers are not completely exclusive to officers; prison recording sometimes includes assaults on other prison staff in this category. The numbers supplied refer to the number of individual assault incidents. The numbers refer to all incidents recorded as assaults; these may also include threatening behaviour, projection of bodily fluids and other non-contact events and allegations.
	Ministers, NOMS and the Prison Officers Association are collectively committed to ensuring that violence in prisons is not tolerated in any form. Since 2004, a national strategy has directed every public sector prison to have in place a local violence reduction strategy. From mid 2007, this has also been applied to the contracted out (or private) estate. A whole prison approach is encouraged, engaging all staff, all disciplines and prisoners in challenging unacceptable behaviour, problem-solving and personal safety.
	Due to re-rolling of prisons over the years and the fact that some prisons have both male and female prisoners we do not have precise figures in the form requested. The approximate numbers of prisoner on officer assaults are as follows.
	
		
			  Prisoner on officer assault incidents( 1) 
			   Prison type  
			   Female  Male  Total 
			 1997(2) 146 1,564 1,710 
			 1998(2) 174 1,415 1,589 
			 1999(2) 159 1,708 1,867 
			 2000 224 1,705 1,929 
			 2001 246 2,132 2,378 
			 2002 258 2,245 2,503 
			 2003 257 2,265 2,522 
			 2004 257 2,506 2,763 
			 2005 392 2,699 3,091 
			 2006 485 2,640 3,125 
			 2007 373 2,497 2,870 
			 (1) Excludes a small proportion of assaults by others such as visitors. (2) There has been improved recording of assault incidents over the years particularly for fights. Figures reported for 1997, 1998 and 1999 are not directly comparable with those reported in later years. 
		
	
	While over recent years both male and female prisoner populations have increased, generally female prisoners make up about 5 per cent. of the total prison population. In the most recent complete calendar year (2007), about 13 per cent. of prisoner on officer assaults occurred in female prisons.

Probation Service: Finance

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the budget of the Probation Service is in 2008-09; and what proportion of that budget is for the care and aftercare of young people in young offender institutions.

David Hanson: The delegated budget for the probation service for 2008-09 is 914 million resource and 3 million capital. The detail of the proportion of the delegated budget spent on the care and after care of young peoplethe 18 to 21 year old offendersin young offender institutions is not held centrally, and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost because of the need to survey all 36 probation boards and the six probation trusts. The probation service is not responsible for the care or after care of offenders under 18 years old who are managed by the youth offending teams.

Reoffenders

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the re-offending rate  (a) within six months and  (b) within 12 months for young men on release from young offender institutions was in each of the last four years.

David Hanson: We do not collate figures on reoffending occurring within six months of leaving custody. On an annual basis we publish rates which measure reoffending over a 12 month period.
	The following table shows the reoffending figures for juvenile male offenders (aged 10 to 17), who were released from custody in the first quarter of 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. The following table shows the proportion of offenders that committed at least one further offence and the number of further offences committed per 100 offenders.
	
		
			  Males 
			   Number of releases from custody  Proportion of offenders reoffending (1 year)  Number of offences per 100 offenders (1 year) 
			 2003 740 75.7 458.8 
			 2004 751 78.3 430.2 
			 2005 764 75.3 426.2 
			 2006 729 78.9 421.4 
		
	
	The figures include offenders released from young offender institutions, secure training centres and secure children's homes.
	We are unable to break the figures down to show only offenders released form young offender institutions.
	The latest reoffending statistics for juveniles, 'Reoffending of juveniles: results from the 2006 cohort', were published on 4 September 2008 and can be obtained from the Ministry of Justice website:
	http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/reoffendingjuveniles.htm.
	We have made significant progress in reducing juvenile reoffending. The frequency rate of juvenile reoffending fell by 18.7 per cent. between 2000 to 2006.

Accidents: Cycling

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the cost to the NHS of treating patients who were involved in cycling accidents and were not wearing a cycle helmet in the latest period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many people were admitted to hospital as a result of cycling accidents in each of the last five financial years.

Ben Bradshaw: The national health service has not been asked to identify separately the costs of treating road traffic accident victims or those injured in cycling accidents because of the burden it would impose. Where a patient receives a compensation payment for their injuries, however incurred, the NHS is able to reclaim the costs of their treatment from whoever pays the compensation. In 2007-08, over 137 million was recovered in this way.
	Information on admissions to hospital as a result of cycling accidents from 2002-03 to 2006-07 is shown in the following tables.
	
		
			  Total admissions to hospital as a result of cycling accidents* from 2002-03 to 2006-07, NHS Hospitals England and activity performed in the Independent sector in England commissioned by English NHS 
			   Total admissions to hospital as a result of cycling accidents  V10 Pedal cyclist injured in collision with pedestrian or animal  V11 Pedal cyclist injured in collision with other pedal cycle  V12 Pedal cyclist injured in collision with 2-3 wheeled motor vehicle  V13 Pedal cyclist injured in collision with car pick-up truck or van  V14 Pedal cyclist injured in collision with heavy transport vehicle or bus 
			 2006-07 13,368 89 208 62 1,873 129 
			 2005-06 13,533 71 195 59 1,800 118 
			 2004-05 12,659 54 220 53 1,497 120 
			 2003-04 12,049 50 176 54 1,471 118 
			 2002-03 10,795 50 158 61 1471 117 
		
	
	
		
			   V14 Pedal cyclist injured in collision with heavy transport vehicle or bus  V15 Pedal cyclist injured in collision with railway train or railway vehicle  V16 Pedal cyclist injured in collision with other nonmotor vehicle  V17 Pedal cyclist injured in collision with fixed/stationary object  V18 Pedal cyclist injured in noncollision transport accident  V19 Pedal cyclist injured in oth and unspc transport accident 
			 2006-07 129 1 18 518 9,191 1,279 
			 2005-06 118 3 8 511 9,538 1,230 
			 2004-05 120 2 19 412 9,119 1,163 
			 2003-04 118 4 17 336 8,687 1,136 
			 2002-03 117 0 20 377 7617 924 
			  Notes: ICD-10 Clinical Codes External Cause Codes: V10 Pedal cyclist injured in collision with pedestrian or animal V11 Pedal cyclist injured in collision with other pedal cycle V12 Pedal cyclist injured in collision with 2-3 wheeled motor vehicle V13 Pedal cyclist injured in collision with car pick-up truck or van V14 Pedal cyclist injured in collision with heavy transport vehicle or bus V15 Pedal cyclist injured in collision with railway train or railway vehicle V16 Pedal cyclist injured in collision with other nonmotor vehicle V17 Pedal cyclist injured in collision with fixed/stationary object V18 Pedal cyclist injured in noncollision transport accident V19 Pedal cyclist injured in oth and unspc transport accident  Finished admission episodes A finished admission episode is the first period of inpatient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. Finished admission episodes are counted against the year in which the admission episode finishes. Please note that admissions do not represent the number of inpatients, as a person may have more than one admission within the year.  Cause code The cause code is a supplementary code that indicates the nature of any external cause of injury, poisoning or other adverse effects. The field within HES counts only the first external cause code which is coded within the episode.  Data Quality Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) are compiled from data sent by more than 300 NHS trusts and primary care trusts (PCTs) in England. Data is also received from a number of independent sector organisations for activity commissioned by the English NHS. The NHS Information Centre for health and social care liaises closely with these organisations to encourage submission of complete and valid data and seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data via HES processes. While this brings about improvement over time, some shortcomings remain.  Ungrossed data Figures have not been adjusted for shortfalls in data (i.e. the data are ungrossed).  Assessing growth through time HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. During the years that these records have been collected by the NHS there have been ongoing improvements in quality and coverage. These improvements in information submitted by the NHS have been particularly marked in the earlier years and need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. Some of the increase in figures for later years (particularly 2006-07 onwards) may be due to the improvement in the coverage of independent sector activity. Changes in NHS practice also need to be borne in mind when analysing time series. For example, a number of procedures may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and may no longer be accounted for in the HES data. This may account for any reductions in activity over time.  Source: Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), The NHS Information Centre for health and social care

Arachnoditis

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research his Department has carried out into possible links between arachnoditis and depression.

Dawn Primarolo: None.
	Both the Department's National Institute for Health Research and the Medical Research Council welcome high quality applications for support into any aspect of human health, and these are judged in open competition with other demands on funding.

Dental Services

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS  (a) dentists and  (b) orthodontists there were in each (i) strategic health authority and (ii) primary care trust area in England in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Ann Keen: Information is not available in the format requested. The following information relates to the primary care dental services.
	The number of national health service dentists, as at 31 March, 1997 to 2006 is available in Annex E of the NHS Dental Activity and Workforce Report England: 31 March 2006. Information is available by strategic health authority (SHA) and by primary care trust (PCT).
	This measure counted the number of NHS dentists recorded on PCT lists as at 31 March each year. This information is based on the old contractual arrangements, which were in place up to and including 31 March 2006. This report, published on 23 August 2006, has already been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
	http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dwfactivity
	The numbers of dentists with NHS activity during the years ending 31 March, 2007 and 2008 are available in Table G1 of Annex 3 of the NHS Dental Statistics for England: 2007-08 report. Information is provided by SHA and by PCT. This information is based on the new dental contractual arrangements, introduced on 1 April 2006.
	Following a recent consultation exercise, this measure is based on a revised methodology and therefore supersedes previously published workforce figures relating to the new dental contractual arrangements. It is not comparable to the information collected under the old contractual arrangements. This revised methodology counted the number of dental performers with NHS activity recorded via FP17 claim forms in each year ending 31 March. This report, published on 21 August 2008, has already been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
	http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dental0708
	Further work is planned over the next few months to determine whether the new definition used under the new dental contractual arrangements can be applied to the years under the old contractual arrangements to produce a consistent time series.
	Dentists undertaking orthodontic work will appear in the figures in both of the above reports; however, it is not possible to separately identify such dentists.
	Both sets of published figures relate to headcounts and do not differentiate between full-time and part-time dentists, nor do they account for the fact that some dentists may do more NHS work than others.
	Tables 7a and 7b of the Dental Working Hours, England and Wales 2006-07 and 2007-08 report show working hours information for dentists identified as carrying out more orthodontic work than non-orthodontic work and vice versa.
	This report, published on 21 August 2008, has already been placed in the Library and is also available on the NHS Information Centre website at:
	http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/dentalworkinghours0708

Health: Insurance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the availability of top-up health insurance in England; and what information his Department holds on providers of top-up health insurance;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the average annual cost to an individual patient of top-up health insurance;
	(3)  what estimate he has made of the  (a) current annual value and  (b) likely increase as a result of his announcement on access to NHS care on 4 November 2008 in the annual value of top-up health insurance purchased in England.

Ben Bradshaw: The Government response to Professor Richards' review, 'Improving access to medicines for NHS patients', set out a package of measures which will reduce demand for additional private drugs, as more drugs will be available on the national health service, more quickly.
	As more drugs will be available on the NHS, the Department considers that this will mean fewer NHS patients are likely to want to take out so called top-up health insurance than would otherwise have been the case.
	As with all stakeholders who had an interest, Professor Richards and his team heard the views of some insurance companies as part of the review process. This did not amount to an assessment of the availability of particular types of health insurance, given the Department's policy is not to encourage the expansion of private health insurance.

Hospitals: Admissions

Robert Syms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate his Department has made of the average cost per day of a patient staying in hospital in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: It is not possible to provide an estimate of the average cost per day, as the data collected as part of the annual national health service reference cost collection includes all costs associated with treatment and service provision, and not just the cost of the stay in hospital.

NHS: Negligence

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what claims are for which total damages are worth more than 500,000 that have been settled under the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts; and in each case  (a) which trust was involved,  (b) what damages have been paid to date,  (c) what total damages are expected to be,  (d) what the speciality was in which the claim occurred and  (e) what injury to the patient occurred.

Ann Keen: The information requested was provided by the NHS Litigation Authority and is in the document, CNST claims with damages over 500k. A copy has been placed in the Library.
	 Note:
	Total damages indicate the exact amount paid if the case is closed, or the estimated amount to be paid where some damages are outstanding, for example under periodic payments.

NHS: Public Participation

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he takes to ensure that LINks pay appropriate attention to social care inquiries; and what mechanisms are in place to ensure that health and overview scrutiny committees take account of social care referrals.

Ann Keen: Section 221 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007, sets out local involvement network activities in respect of both health and social services.
	All materials produced to describe the role of LINks highlight that the LINk role incorporates social services. The Act also contains provision, which ensures that, should a local involvement network (LINk) refer a matter relating to social care services to a Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC), the Committee is required to respond to the LINk and keep the LINk informed of the Committee's actions in relation to the matter.

Nurses: Crosby

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average starting salary of nurses in Crosby constituency was in 1997; and what it was at the latest date for which information is available.

Ann Keen: The information is not available in the format requested. The following table shows the pay and percentage increase of nurses at the start of the pay scale from 1996 to 2008.
	
		
			  Nurse Grade D 
			   Pay ()  Minimum percentage increase 
			 1996-97 11,895 4.02 
			 1997-98(1) 12,385 4.12 
			 1998-99(1) 12,855 3.79 
			 1999-00 14,400 12.02 
			 2000-01 14,890 3.40 
			 2001-02 15,445 3.73 
			 2002-03 16,005 3.63 
			 2003-04 16,525 3.25 
			 2004-05 17,060 3.24 
			 2005-06 17,475 2.43 
			 2006-07 19,166 9.68 
			 2007-08(2) 19,683 2.70 
			 2008-09 20,225 2.75 
			  Notes: 1. 1 December figure used for years where increase was staged. 2. 1 November figure used for year where increase was staged.  Source: Non-medical pay policy

Fuel Poverty

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what estimate he has made of the percentage of households living in fuel poverty who are on a social tariff from their energy supplier; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ruddock: The requested data does not exist.
	Ofgem publish information on the number of customers benefiting from social assistance offered by suppliers, but it does not state how many of these are living in fuel poverty.

Renewable Energy

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change what funding is being provided by his Department for alternative energy technologies in the next three years.

Mike O'Brien: DECC provides capital grant and other funding for the demonstration and pre-commercial deployment of low carbon and renewable energy technologies under the Environmental Transformation Fund, which has a budget of 400 million over the 2008 to 2011 CSR period. This includes support for the Carbon Trust innovation portfolio. The Government also provide support for renewables through market drivers such as the renewables obligation, which is expected to be worth around a billion pounds a year by 2010.
	In addition, DIUS through the Research Councils Energy Technologies Institute and Technology Strategy board, provides support for energy research and development and for business innovation. The regional development agencies, devolved Administrations and the European Union also offer a range of support for research into new energy technologies.

Communities in Control White Paper

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what progress has been made on the implementation of the Communities in Control White Paper, with particular reference to the introduction of new empowerment measures in the current economic climate.

Hazel Blears: Very good progress has been made in implementing the White Paper Communities in Control including developing an Asset Transfer Unit, publishing a Participatory Budgeting strategy and launching a review into redress for council services. We have consulted on a wide range of detailed propositions. Strengthening community influence and control is critical in times of economic downturn and can help deliver value for money public services. We continue to deliver our commitments and aim to bring forward legislation as soon as possible.

Regeneration Schemes: Employment Opportunities

Virendra Sharma: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department has taken through regeneration schemes to maintain employment opportunities.

John Healey: We are working on a number of fronts to ensure that our approach to regeneration supports employment opportunitiesparticularly for the most vulnerable.
	Last year we launched the 1.5 billion Working Neighbourhoods Fund (WNF)to provide resources to local authorities that have the highest concentrations of worklessness.
	Looking forward, we have recently completed the consultation period on the document 'Transforming Places, Changing Lives'. This sets out new proposals to ensure that future regeneration activity acts to promote economic opportunity in our most deprived communities.

Regeneration Schemes: Employment Opportunities

Mark Fisher: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department has taken through regeneration schemes to maintain employment opportunities.

Hazel Blears: We are working on a number of fronts to ensure that our approach to regeneration supports employment opportunitiesparticularly for the most vulnerable.
	Last year we launched the 1.5 billion Working Neighbourhoods Fund (WNF)to provide resources to local authorities that have the highest concentrations of worklessness.
	Looking forward, we have recently completed the consultation period on the document Transforming Places, Changing Lives. This sets out new proposals to ensure that future regeneration activity acts to promote economic opportunity in our most deprived communities.

Fire Prevention: Publicity

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much the advertising campaign Put it out, right out, has cost.

Sadiq Khan: The most recent Put it out, right out advertising ran in January and February 2007, as part of the overall Fire Kills campaign, promoting the importance of carefully disposing of smoking products. The specific cost of advertising space bought for the Put it out, right out advertising during this period was 663,948.
	The Put it out, right out advertising also ran as part of the Fire Kills campaigns run by the Department's predecessor, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, in the financial years 2002-03 and 2003-04. Specific costs for media space bought as part of these campaigns are not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Fires: Death

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what recent steps have been taken to reduce the numbers of accident-related fire deaths.

Sadiq Khan: The Government are committed to reducing preventable fire deaths and injuries from fire. Fire deaths in the home in the UK are at their lowest since the 1950s, and the long-term trend is downwardsin 1997 in England, 362 people died in house fires, compared to the current figure of 233 fire deaths in the home in 2006.
	The Fire Kills campaign is one of our key strands of work to drive down deaths and injuries from fire. The range of public awareness media campaigns run by the Government have sent powerful messages to the public about the importance of fire safety in the home, in particular the importance of having a working smoke alarm installed. Ownership of smoke alarms in England now stands at 80 per cent. of households and we are seeking to raise it further as evidence suggests that those without alarms are often in those groups who are most at risk from fire. The next media campaign will commence on 26 December 2008 and will run for one month promoting the key message of the importance to test and maintain smoke alarms.
	The Government have also invested 25 million in grants during 2004-08 to Fire and Rescue Authorities to enable them to purchase smoke alarms to install in domestic dwellings. This pump-priming funding stream has resulted in just under 2 million Home Fire Risk Check visits to households in England, with over 2.4 million smoke alarms being installed in properties at higher risk from fire.

Housing: Recreation Spaces

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will encourage local authorities to take action to ensure that no one should live more than 500 metres from a two hectare wood or four kilometres from a 20 hectare wood.

Iain Wright: Planning Policy Guidance note 17: Planning for open space, sport and recreation (PPG17) already encourages local planning authorities to identify the specific needs for easily accessible, good quality open space, including woodland, within their areas. Authorities should use the information gained from their assessments of needs to establish an effective open space strategy which should form the basis for appropriate policies in their development plan. PPG17 requires local authorities to derive local standards for the provision of open space, as national standards cannot cater for local circumstances, such as the extent of existing built development in an area.

Local Government: Procurement

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate she has made of the number of local authorities consistently making payment to suppliers within 30 days.

John Healey: The most recent data available shows, 95 per cent. of undisputed invoices were paid within 30 days or within mutually agreed terms.

Planning Inspectorate: Fees and Charges

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the Planning Inspectorate is expected to start charging for appeals; and what estimate has been made of the Inspectorate's likely revenue from such charges in their first full year.

Iain Wright: The Department in conjunction with the Planning Inspectorate is currently formulating proposals on charging for appeals and will consult again publicly prior to introducing appeal fees. At present, we plan to introduce appeal fees from October 2009.

South-East Plan

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to whom a hard copy of the South-East Plan consultation document was distributed by her Department during the recent consultation in  (a) Guildford borough,  (b) Waverley borough and  (c) Surrey.

Sadiq Khan: Hard copies were distributed to all south-east MPs and MEPs, participants at the Examination in Public, South East England Regional Assembly members, and local authority heads of planning. public libraries and planning authority offices received copies for inspection.
	In addition, a further approximately 100 hard copies have been distributed on a request basis across the region.

Population

James Clappison: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the most recent forecast is from the Office for National Statistics of the proportion of population growth  (a) directly attributable and (ii) indirectly attributable to migration in each of its projections of population size.

Kevin Brennan: holding answer 10 November 2008
	The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated November 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question asking what the most recent forecast is of the proportion of population growth (a) directly attributable and (b) indirectly attributable to migration in each of its projections of population size (234137).
	The most recent national population projections, based on mid-2006 population estimates, were published by the Office for National Statistics on 23 October 2007. The principal projection was produced using the main assumptions of future levels of fertility, mortality and migration. However, to give users of the projections an indication of the effect of higher or lower assumptions, a number of variant population projections were also produced.
	An understanding of the overall effect of migration on population growth can be obtained by comparing the results of the principal and high and low migration variant projections with those of the 'natural change' (or zero migration) variant projection. Table A below gives projected components of population change for the UK in the period to 2031 in the principal projection, the high and low migration variants and the natural change variant projection.
	Table B shows how the projected population growth to 2031 is broken down between the assumed level of net migration and projected natural change. Natural change is then further broken down into that projected in the absence of migration and the additional natural change from the assumed level of net migration. So, taking the principal projection for example, some 47 per cent of population growth is therefore directly attributable to the assumed number of net migrants. The remaining 53 per cent is attributable to projected natural increase (of which 31 per cent would occur in the absence of net migration and 23 per cent arises from the effect of net migration on natural change). In total, therefore, some 69 per cent of population growth in the period to 2031 in the principal projection is attributable, directly or indirectly, to future net migration.
	Projected population figures are unchanged since my previous response to PQ 169089 (3 December 2007) concerning the same subject.
	
		
			  Table A: Projected popula tion change, United Kingdom 2006 -31 
			  T housand 
			   High migration variant  Principal projection  Low migration variant  Zero migration variant 
			 Population at mid-2006 60,587 60,587 60,587 60,587 
			  
			  Population change (2006-31) 
			 Births 20,305 19,847 19,390 17,458 
			 Deaths 14,291 14,247 14,202 14,244 
			  
			 Natural change 6,014 5,601 5,188 3,214 
			 Net migration 6,382 4,912 3,442 0 
			  
			 Total change 12,396 10,513 8,630 3,214 
			  
			 Population at mid-2031 72,983 71,100 69,217 63,801 
		
	
	
		
			  Table B: Projected population growth by  component, United Kingdom, 2006 -31 
			   High migration variant  Principal projection  Low migration variant 
			 Total population increase between 2006 and 2031 (Thousand) 12,396 10,513 8,630 
			  Resulting from:
			 Assumed net migration 6,382 4,912 3,442 
			 Natural change assuming no migration 3,214 3,214 3,214 
			 Additional natural change from assumed level of net migration 2,800 2,387 1,974 
			 
			  Percentage of pop ulation  growth 2006-31 resulting from:
			 Assumed net migration 51 47 40 
			 Natural change assuming no migration 26 31 37 
			 Additional natural change from assumed level of net migration 23 23 23 
			  Source: Migration and Population. Growth: http://www.gad.gov.uk/Demography_Data/Population/2006/methodology/mignote.asp

Armed Forces: Compensation

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment has been made of the operation of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme in comparison with  (a) compensation arrangements for police officers and  (b) other public sector compensation schemes as part of the review of public service injury benefits; and if he will make a statement.

Kevan Jones: In conducting the recent review of armed forces compensation scheme tariff levels, we considered a number of other public sector compensation schemes including the police. Comparison is not straightforward as the underlying principles of the schemes are so dissimilar but the armed forces compensation scheme compared favourably with them. Reflecting the special circumstances of service in today's armed forces, the Service Personnel Command Paper announced the Government's intention to double the maximum lump sum award to 570,000. This is in addition to a guaranteed tax-free inflation proof income for life. Following a period of consultation we are laying this week, the necessary legislation to increase the lump sum awards.

Armed Forces: Death

Joan Humble: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on what date the decision was made that the Directorate of Army Personnel Strategy Science should attend the scene of all sudden deaths on the military estate; how many incident sites the Directorate has attended in each year since that decision; and in what form and to what body the Directorate reports its findings.

Kevan Jones: Directorate of Army Personnel Strategy (DAPS) science occupational psychologists do not routinely attend the sites of sudden deaths and no decision has been made that they should do so.
	DAPS Science does, however, send occupational psychologists to the sites of Army air accidents (with the exception of accidents occurring in conflict situations) in order to conduct a human factors investigation. This is in compliance with Joint Service Publication (JSP) 551 (Military Flight Safety Regulations) Volume 1 (Flight Safety). DAPS also has a responsibility to provide occupational psychology support to boards of inquiry into air accidents, again in compliance with JSP 551.

Defence Estates: Bye Laws

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Answer of 6 November 2008,  Official Report, columns 671-72W, on Military Lands Act byelaws, what the 96 sites, including the 13 designated under the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, are whose byelaws are, or will be, under review.

Kevan Jones: All of the sites to be reviewed, including those that we still need to start the review process are listed on the Defence Estate website at:
	http://www.defence-estates.mod.uk/byelaws/Internet/Intro.php
	and is in the process of being updated.
	The designated Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 sites are listed as follows:
	AWE Aldermaston
	AWE Burghfield
	RAF Fylingdales
	Faslane (HMNB Clyde)
	Coulport
	RAF Mildenhall
	PJHQ Northwood
	RAF Brize Norton
	SMC Marchwood
	RAF Croughton
	RAF Fairford
	RAF Welford
	RAF Feltwell
	RAF Lakenheath
	RAF Menwith Hill
	Plymouth (and Devonport)

Departmental Written Questions

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many questions for written answer were tabled to his Department in Session  (a) 2002-03,  (b) 2003-04,  (c) 2004-05,  (d) 2005-06,  (e) 2006-07 and  (f) 2007-08 to date; and how many were (i) answered substantively and (ii) not answered on grounds of disproportionate cost.

Kevan Jones: The information requested is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Parliamentary session  Written questions received( 1)  Answered substantively  Disproportionate cost answer 
			 2002-03 4,622 4,394 228 
			 2003-04 3,745 3,480 265 
			 2004-05 1,714 1,645 69 
			 2005-06 4,736 4,453 283 
			 2006-07 3,663 3,414 249 
			 2007-08 4,291 3,765 526 
			 Total 22,771 21,151 1,620 
			 (1) Including named day questions 
		
	
	Data are not recorded separately that identifies where a disproportionate cost answer was given wholly or as part of the answer. The figures for disproportionate cost answers therefore include those which were partially answered.

Christmas

Mark Prisk: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how many Christmas functions  (a) he,  (b) officials from his Department and  (c) officials from its executive agencies (i) hosted and (ii) attended in 2007-08; what the cost to the public purse was; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: My right hon. Friend, the then Secretary of State, did not host or attend any official Christmas functions in 2007-08.
	The Department does not hold the information you request regarding officials from this Department and it could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	I have approached the chief executives of the Insolvency Service and Companies House agencies and they will respond to you directly.
	 Letter from Stephen Speed, 10 November 2008:
	The Minister of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform has asked me to reply to your question how many Christmas functions  (a) he,  (b) officials from his Department and  (c) officials from its executive agencies (i) host and (ii) attend in 2007-08; what the cost to the public purse was.
	The Insolvency Service Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform did not host any Christmas functions in 2007-08. There was no cost to the public purse of The Agency or any of its Officials attending functions in 2007-08.
	 Letter from Gareth Jones, 10 November 2008:
	I am responding on behalf of Companies House to your recently tabled Parliamentary Question to the Minister of State for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.
	Companies House held a staff party and provided Christmas lunches for staff in 2007-8 at a total cost of 27,069. The number of Christmas functions attended by staff is not known but they would be at no cost to the public purse.

Departmental Databases

Francis Maude: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Rochford and Southend East of 9 October 2008,  Official Report, column 711W, on departmental databases, in what way the MOSAIC data was used to segment audiences during the campaign.

Patrick McFadden: The National Minimum Wage publicity campaign used MOSAIC data to help map concentrations of low paid workers. This mapping was instrumental in enabling the Department to run a regionally based campaign that reached its target audiences in a cost efficient and effective way.

EU External Trade: Sri Lanka

Paul Burstow: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what requirements apply to third countries under the Generalised System of Preferences plus (GSP plus) programme; and what timetable has been set for the European Commission's investigation of compliance of Sri Lanka with its obligations under GSP plus.

Gareth Thomas: The Generalised System of Preferences plus (GSP plus) scheme is a special incentive scheme granted to countries that are classified as a vulnerable economy and are willing to ratify, implement and adhere to 27 core conventions on human rights, labour rights, environment and good governance. The full list of conventions can be found on page 30.6.2005 of the official journal of the European Union.
	Countries currently receiving GSP plus have had three years to ratify and implement the 27 core conventions, the deadline for this was 31 October 2008. New applicants also had to submit applications by this date but must have also ratified and be effectively implementing all 27 core conventions.
	GSP plus countries are expected to uphold these conventions. Failure to do so results in them being temporarily withdrawn from the scheme and, depending on the seriousness of the breach, can lead to a temporary withdrawal from the Generalised System of Preferences therefore losing all its preferential access to the EU.
	For the period 2009 to 2011, to be eligible for GSP plus, a country must meet the following 'vulnerability criteria':
	it has not been classified as a high income country during three consecutive years, and the five largest sections of its GSP-covered exports to the Community represent more than 75 per cent. in value of its total GSP-covered exports; and
	GSP-covered imports into the Community represent less than 1 per cent. in value of the total GSP-covered Community imports.
	Separately, the European Commission announced its GSP plus related investigation of Sri Lanka on the 18 October 2008. The Government of Sri Lanka have four months in which to submit evidence to the investigation team. The investigation could take up to a year.

Regional Development Agencies: Finance

Eric Pickles: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what the budget is for each of the regional development agencies for each of the next three years.

Patrick McFadden: Regional Development Agencies' total grant in aid budgets for the next three years is set out in the following table. Please note that budgets for 2009-10 and 2010-11 are indicative allocations.
	
		
			   million 
			Indicative Allocations 
			  RDAs  2008-09  2009-10  2010-11 
			 AWM 303 274 235 
			 EEDA 134 132 115 
			 EMDA 164 158 136 
			 LDA 348 383 330 
			 NWDA 388 383 329 
			 ONE 247 243 208 
			 SEEDA 159 161 141 
			 SWRDA 164 156 136 
			 YF 302 297 255

Regional Planning and Development

Grant Shapps: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what discussions the Secretary of State has had with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on his response to the Review of Sub-National Economics Development and Regeneration.

Patrick McFadden: The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) is jointly responsible, with the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG), for implementing the recommendations of the review of sub-national economic development and regeneration (SNR). Ministers and officials in both Departments are in regular contact over progress with its implementation and, in particular, with regard to responding to the consultation 'Prosperous Places: taking forward the review of sub-national economic development and regeneration'.

China Task Force

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many times the China Task Force has met since its establishment; who chaired each meeting; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The China Task Force was established in November 2003 and was originally chaired by my right hon. Friend the then Deputy Prime Minister (Mr. Prescott). China Task Force meetings took place in February, April and November 2004, July and October 2005, June and September 2006 and February 2007.
	Since August 2007, it has been chaired by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. He chaired his first meeting in September 2007, and then in February 2008. The most recent meeting took place in October 2008 and was chaired by my noble Friend Lord Myners, Financial Services Secretary, on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
	Further information about the China Task Force and its remit can be found on the Cabinet Office website at:
	http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/secretariats/foreign_and_defence/china_task_force.aspx

Democratic Republic of Congo: Armed Conflict

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received of recent activity by the Lords' Resistance Army (LRA) in north-eastern Congo; what assessment he has made of such reports; and what representations he has received on the indictment by the International Criminal Court of four LRA members.

Gillian Merron: Local humanitarian agencies report numerous attacks against the civilian population by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) in the territory of Dungu in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in recent months. The most recent reports include details of an attack on Dungu over the weekend of 1-2 November. The LRA poses an increasingly serious threat to security across the region.
	The UK strongly supports the International Criminal Court and believes that its investigation in Uganda helped bring the LRA to the Juba peace process. Justice is an essential part of sustainable peace and it is vital that those responsible for the terrible crimes committed during the conflict in northern Uganda are held to account.

Iran: Nuclear Power

Peter Kilfoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for discussions with the Iranian government on its nuclear programme.

Bill Rammell: There are no plans for discussions between the Government and the Iranian government on Iran's nuclear programme. But the UK is directly involved in the efforts by the E3+3 (UK, US, France, Germany, Russia and China) with the support of Dr Javier Solatia, the EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, to persuade Iran to engage on this matter. Dr Solana recently wrote to the Iranian Chief Negotiator Mr Saeed Jalili to suggest that their deputies, Mr Robert Cooper and Mr Ali Bagheri, meet soon to clarify details of the offer that the E3+3 sent to Iran in June this year.

Pension Credit: Enfield

Joan Ryan: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many residents of Enfield, North constituency have applied for pension credits since the establishment of the pension credit scheme.

Rosie Winterton: Information on the number of applications for pension credit is not available at the level of constituency. The following table contains the number of households in receipt and individual beneficiaries of pension credit in Enfield, North constituency.
	
		
			  Number of household recipients and individual beneficiaries of pension credit in Enfield, North, 2003-08 
			   Household recipients  Individual beneficiaries 
			 November 2003 3,240 3,930 
			 May 2004 3,620 4,430 
			 May 2005 3,960 4,870 
			 May 2006 4,050 5,010 
			 May 2007 4,090 5,030 
			 May 2008 4,120 5,050 
			  Notes:  1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest 10.  2. Pension credit was introduced in October 2003, so November data is used for that year.  3. Household recipients are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household.  4. Individual beneficiaries includes both claimants and their partners.   Source:  DWP Information Directorate Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study 100 per cent. data.

Pensioners

Stephen Hepburn: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners there were in  (a) Jarrow constituency,  (b) South Tyneside,  (c) the North East and  (d) the UK in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: The available information is in the table.
	
		
			   Number of pensioners 
			  Jarrow parliamentary constituency  
			 November 1999 16,000 
			 May 2000 15,900 
			 November 2000 16,100 
			 May 2001 15,700 
			 November 2001 16,000 
			 May 2002 16,220 
			 August 2002 16,210 
			 November 2002 16,240 
			 February 2003 16,230 
			 May 2003 16,250 
			 August 2003 16,310 
			 November 2003 16,300 
			 February 2004 16,270 
			 May 2004 16,320 
			 August 2004 16,350 
			 November 2004 16,360 
			 February 2005 16,310 
			 May 2005 16,290 
			 August 2005 16,300 
			 November 2005 16,340 
			 February 2006 16,320 
			 May 2006 16,290 
			 August 2006 16,370 
			 November 2006 16,390 
			 February 2007 16,420 
			 May 2007 16,500 
			 August 2007 16,580 
			 November 2007 16,650 
			 February 2008 16,660 
			   
			  South Tyneside local authority  
			 November 1999 31,000 
			 May 2000 30,800 
			 November 2000 31,100 
			 May 2001 30,500 
			 November 2001 30,700 
			 May 2002 30,800 
			 August 2002 30,750 
			 November 2002 30,710 
			 February 2003 30,640 
			 May 2003 30,650 
			 August 2003 30,710 
			 November 2003 30,600 
			 February 2004 30,510 
			 May 2004 30,560 
			 August 2004 30,590 
			 November 2004 30,600 
			 February 2005 30,530 
			 May 2005 30,470 
			 August 2005 30,470 
			 November 2005 30,520 
			 February 2006 30,460 
			 May 2006 30,430 
			 August 2006 30,440 
			 November 2006 30,500 
			 February 2007 30,500 
			 May 2007 30,550 
			 August 2007 30,650 
			 November 2007 30,500 
			 February 2008 30,750 
			   
			  North-east Government office region  
			 November 1999 480,200 
			 May 2000 481,800 
			 November 2000 484,100 
			 May 2001 483,100 
			 November 2001 485,200 
			 May 2002 478,290 
			 August 2002 478,950 
			 November 2002 479,770 
			 February 2003 479,510 
			 May 2003 480,890 
			 August 2003 482,190 
			 November 2003 482,780 
			 February 2004 482,510 
			 May 2004 484,400 
			 August 2004 485,930 
			 November 2004 487,330 
			 February 2005 487,300 
			 May 2005 487,940 
			 August 2005 488,890 
			 November 2005 489,420 
			 February 2006 489,280 
			 May 2006 489,970 
			 August 2006 491,770 
			 November 2006 493,450 
			 February 2007 494,820 
			 May 2007 496,960 
			 August 2007 499,860 
			 November 2007 501,510 
			 February 2008 502,370 
			   
			  Great Britain  
			 November 1999 10,338,400 
			 May 2000 10,337,800 
			 November 2000 10,366,900 
			 May 2001 10,388,200 
			 November 2001 10,441,900 
			 May 2002 11,353,500 
			 August 2002 11,383,960 
			 November 2002 11,414,630 
			 February 2003 11,430,790 
			 May 2003 11,473,090 
			 August 2003 11,515,970 
			 November 2003 11,544,620 
			 February 2004 11,557,870 
			 May 2004 11,620,150 
			 August 2004 11,668,110 
			 November 2004 11,710,580 
			 February 2005 11,726,470 
			 May 2005 11,760,740 
			 August 2005 11,786,580 
			 November 2005 11,804,430 
			 February 2006 11,817,230 
			 May 2006 11,847,970 
			 August 2006 11,896,500 
			 November 2006 11,949,620 
			 February 2007 11,992,450 
			 May 2007 12,053,770 
			 August 2007 12,127,160 
			 November 2007 12,182,270 
			 February 2008 12,216,390 
			  Notes: 1. Figures for November 1999 to November 2001 are rounded to the nearest hundred. 2. Figures for May 2002 to February 2008 are rounded to the nearest 10. Some additional disclosure control has been applied.  3. There is no geographical information until November 1999. 4. For more recent years data exists for both benefit claimed by pensioners and for the pensioners client group from both sample and 100 per cent. data. Figures produced from sample data may differ from those produced from 100 per cent. data due to sample variation. A table of expected variation can be found here http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd1/state_pension/rp302.pdf (table A1). An additional source of variation is that the WPLS data takes more account of retrospection (ie late changes to the data). The WPLS data are the preferred source to answer queries, however in cases where the required information is unavailable on WPLS data then sample data are used.  Sources: 1. November 1999 to November 2001DWP Information Directorate 5 per cent. sample 2. May 2002 to February 2008DWP Work and Pension Longitudinal Study

Poverty: Pensioners

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners were living in poverty in Vale of Clwyd constituency in each of the last 16 years.

Rosie Winterton: Poverty is a complex and multidimensional issue and, as such, there are many possible measures of poverty.
	Our public service agreement, 'Tackle Poverty and Promote Greater Independence and Wellbeing in Later Life', includes a range of indicators related to low income for pensioners. These are relative low income (below 50 and 60 per cent. contemporary median household income), and absolute low income (below 60 per cent. of 1998-99 median income uprated in line with prices), all measured after housing costs have been taken into account.
	The data source does not allow us to provide robust numbers for estimates below the level of Government office region. The information that is available for the numbers of pensioners in Wales below each of these thresholds is given in the following table:
	
		
			  Number of pensioners falling below various thresholds of median household income, after housing costs, Wales 
			  Million 
			   Below 60 per cent. of contemporary median household income  Below 50 per cent. of contemporary median household income  Below 60 per cent. of the 1998-99 median household income uprated in line with prices 
			 1994-95 to 1996-97 0.1 0.1 0.2 
			 1995-96 to 1997-98 0.1 0.1 0.2 
			 1996-97-1998-99 0.1 0.1 0.2 
			 1997-98-1999-2000 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 1998-99 to 2000-01 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 1999-2000 to 2001-02 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 2000-01 to 2002-03 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 2001-02 to 2003-04 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 2002-03 to 2004-05 0.1   
			 2003-04 to 2005-06 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			 2004-05 to 2006-07 0.1 0.1 0.1 
			  indicates less than 50,000.   Notes:  1. Three survey year averages are given as regional single year estimates are subject to volatility.  2. The income measures used to derive the estimates shown employ the same methodology as the Department for Work and Pensions publication 'Households Below Average Income' (HBAI) series, which uses disposable household income, adjusted (or equivalised) for household size and composition, as an income measure as a proxy for standard of living.  3. The figures are based on OECD equivalisation factors.  4. Figures are based on survey data and as such are subject to a degree of sampling and non-sampling error.  5. Numbers of pensioners in low income households have been rounded to the nearest 100,000 pensioners.

Social Security Benefits

John Barrett: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what recent steps his Department has taken to encourage the take-up of  (a) carer's allowance,  (b) pension credit,  (c) housing benefit and  (d) council tax benefit;
	(2)  what steps his Department is taking to achieve a higher level of overall benefits take-up;
	(3)  what steps his Department is taking to achieve a higher level of benefits take-up amongst pensioners.

Rosie Winterton: holding answer 3 November 2008
	Addressing pensioner poverty has been one of the Government's key priorities since 1997. The number of pensioners on relative low incomes has fallen from 2.9 million in 1998-99 to 2.1 million in 2006-07 (measured as below the threshold of 60 per cent. of contemporary median income after housing costs).
	Maximising the take-up of benefits is crucial to tackling poverty levels. Since pension credit was introduced in 2003 the number of pensioners on relative low incomes has fallen by around 500,000.
	We are making every effort to ensure that people are aware of and claim their entitlement.
	The pension credit claim process has been simplified to make it easier to claim. Customers no longer need to sign and return their pension credit claim forms, claims can be made entirely over the phone.
	A simplified process has been introduced which will enable claims to housing benefit and council tax benefit made over the phone with pension credit, to be forwarded directly to the local authority without the need for a signaturethis is a significant improvement to the claim process and should benefit thousands of pensioners.
	In February 2007, an additional question was introduced in the pension credit application process to identify relevant caring responsibilities in order to invite the customer, where appropriate, to claim carer's allowance using a new, shortened, claim pack specifically designed for people of pension age.
	The Pension Disability and Carers Service have Joint Working Partnerships, live or at the implementation stage, with all 203 primary tier local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales. These partnerships enable the Pension Disability and Carers Service, local authorities and the voluntary sector to provide a single point of access to social care and benefit entitlement.
	The Pensions Disability and Carers Service continues to promote the take up of all pensioner benefits, entitlements and services through a range of marketing activities. Campaign activity in 2008-09 to promote the take up of pension credit has utilised direct mail, local partnership activity and regional radio, press and outdoor advertising. In order to reach our key audiences more directly we are planning a series of targeted regional campaigns. The activity will promote the take up of the full range of pensioner benefits and entitlements, focusing on relevant lead messages for the target audiences. DWP are also working closely with other Government Departments to promote campaigns, such as Keep Warm Keep Well and Act On CO2 to promote ways pensioners can save money on fuel bills and apply for grants to assist in energy efficiency measures.
	More widely the Department for Work and Pensions and all its agencies work hard to ensure that a suitable range of information and advice is available on all the benefits it administers (including carer's allowance, pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit). The agencies, such as the Pension, Disability and Carers Service, also work closely with external stakeholders, to continuously improve their communication material.